Writing device



Nov. 16, 1943. E. M. JOHNSON WRITING DEVICE *Filed Dec. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Java) or wgg/lfizzson Nov. 16,1943.

E. JOHNSON WRITING DEVICE Filed Dec. 22, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 1 6, 1943 H be someone.- The'presentinven-tion rela'tes}generally to devices ior usein wri-ting' letters; communications and othe'r data. More particularly the inven tiOIL relates to that type or writing device which l is portable and -comprisesy'a"board together with mean-sfor feedinga strip of paper or like flexible writing'material across the top face' of the board.

OneIfobject-of the invention --is to provides; 1 writing-device otthistype 'whicihdsespecially de-' signed ioriuse in writing I robin-wariety and is' characterized-"by the fact that-it isboth compact and siinple in construe letters of the round tion v land rma'y be manufa'ctured at an extremely- IOWECOStL Another object 'of theinvention-is to provide a writing-device of th -type under consicleration frame and l-the means-for -feeding the strip of i in whiohthelboard is mounted in a; rectangular"- paperyacross the top face ofthe board comprises a supply spindle anda; take up spindle; bothot whichare mounted beari-ngs oii the frame.

A further object-of the invention isteprovide a Writingdevice of the type'and cliaracter under consideration: in gwhich:-the;hoard-surrounding, I

or supporting frame is: of

are=of the split jaw-type so be readily-:snapp'ed iinto place in conneotioriwit assembly 'of thefidevice and also 'may bereadilyremoved.

A still vfurthervobiect of the fl inv'ention is w a novel design "and ca struction and the spindle-supporting b ari thatithe-spindles -may provide a writing deVice which' is generally or new and. improved construction operate? Other objectsio-f advantages and characteristics of; the present the invention and-"thevarious and is not onl-yrugged; or "durablev abutalso extremely "easy to writing device will-be apparent from; a-considera-" tion-lofithe" following detailed description.

The inventionconsists in the several novel-features= which are hereinafter set 1 forth and are moreparticularlyidefined by claims at the -con clusiorr hereof.

In the drawings which a'ccompany and formapart of this :specificatio-n -or disclosure and in whichilike numeralsvof reference denote cone spending 'parts throughout the several views? f Figiire laisa perspective-l showing a writing device embodyiiig the invention 111 its normal or operative position; -1 V V Figure 12 is a perspecti-v'e" showing the devic'e in' an inverted positioh fairid illustrating-in"detail th arrangement of the and hthe split jaw t suppoi-tin'g -theitwo spindles z D1 l d "take-up; sfji m 'i he bearings for rele .7 l

' Verse sections-0f the. device; respectively.

the supplyand take u'p spindlest and 9. sistsbf a pair of laterally spacd parallel side 2 and an; uppercrossmember"l3 and these' are-preferably Iormed of wood. Thef'side members, H are disposed along the side margins ofthe board tende The inner upper' corner portions of the'side merfibers'have grooves l4 therein (see Figure 5) and -theseform seats cross member g" see isa' -perspe'ctiveshowing the boali darid frame in inverted *positiohand illustrating the take-Up spindle in *separatedWelation with the frame and after the paper 'strip' hasi bee h wound thereon; and lg ures- 4 a The writing device which" *is slaov'vn or 1111s:

trated' in the drawings".constitIites-=t-he p'reierfed? L is of unitary design or construction and has special useor embodiment of the inventi'on. It

utilityin writing letters of the round robiritype; As its "mainor principalp'arts the device comprises a board-6; a .fraiiie lia' supply-spindle 8;

a take-up spindle-'9 'andfa long strip H] of paperor like flexible writing in terialfl- The board fi is rectangu-lar and c'ons'titut es a" supportingsurfaceforthe paper -stripl0. 'It is preferably formed of ,plywoodor like stiii ma:

terial and is. adapte'd,-'-as he feinafterfdescribed? ifedupwards across to have the p per strip-1 the top surface thereof;

The frame 1 is rectangular and servesto reen:

forceand sulpportthe' board-6' a'nd 'alsoto support have fiat coplanar-top "faces.

for the side marginsof the board. The depth as the grooves corresponds-to the" board with the-result-that the bers n;

in fixed or rigid relation" by coating the M with any suitable adhesive or.cement; -The cross members l2 and =13 srve to cross connect and hold such members in relation. The lower cross member I2 is half *roimdJ-as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and is'; arrangedfso that the ends" of the fiat'sicle thereof-abut against-the lower Teflon and mortise l joints serve rigidly to connect" the lower ends of the side members I'lspaced apart and parallel ends of the side members! I.

the side members to theends of the lower mortises H5 at the ends of the lower cross me isber. The upper edge of abuts against and is thickness of the to=p-face of the- I boardisfiush withthe'top faces of the side mem The board and side members areheld grooves l2 andthese joints comprise tenons' I 15 on the lower ends'of the"side members and the lower cross member i2 flush withflthe bottom edge" "of the-board 6; 'mmppefcrossmembef I3 is' vdisposed in parallel relation with the lower cross openings define the split jaw type bearings 20 member l2 and is also half round. It is the for the ends of the supply spindle 8. Slots 28 same in size and shape as the lower cross memare formed in the lower ends of the'side member ber l2 and is arranged so that the end portions i H and these slots extend from the bearings 2i] of the flat side thereof abut against the upper 5 in the direction of the lowerwcross member l2. ends of the side members II. Tenon and mortise Screws 29 extend transversely through the porjoints serve rigidly or fixedly toconnect the uptions of the side members having the slots 28.

per cross member l3 to theside members II and By tightening or loosening the screws 29 the these comprise tenons I! on the upper ends of bearings 2e may be brought into any desired the cross members and, mortises l8 at the ends 10 frictionalengagement with the ends of the supof the upper cross member. The upper edge of p y sp ndlefil When it is desired to remove the the upper cross member abuts against and is supply spindle it is only necessary to shift it flush with the upper edge of the boardfi. Be-, transversely to the center of the side members cause of the arrangement and design of the lower H and then shift it laterally t o h the enand upper cross members I2 and I3 the curved or trance parts 25 of the T-shaped openings 24. round surfaces thereof are exteriorly disposed By h ving the slots 28 and the screws 29 in the 'with respect to the rectangular board-supporting lower ends of the side members the bearings frame 1. The lower central portions of the side may be adjusted so that they grip frictionally members II project beneath the lower edges of the ends of the supply spindle when the spindle the cross members l2 and i3 and form fiat feet 20 is in place, and thus releasably hold the spindle 19 for supporting the frame and board on a desk; in its operative position. The upper ends- 0f the the fact that the feet 'lfi are disposed beneathv the bearings 23 for the ends of the take-up the lower edges of the cross members 12 and I3 spindle ii. The upper ends of-thesidemembersa; the cross members are disposed in an elevated H of the frame are provided withlongitudinall'y position when the feet are placed on a support extending slots 30 and these exten from t ing surface (see Figure 4) The end portions of bearings -23 in'the direction of the upper crossl A the feet l9 are upwardly beveled so that there member l3. Screws 3| extend-through-th perare smooth joints between them and the outer. tions of the side members H having the slots 30 end P o O e lower. edges of the crossv therein and together with said'slotsv constitute versely acrossthe lower portion of the board 5' parts 25 of the T- shaped Opening 24 The two and has its ends releasably journalled in split spindles are provided with cylindrical .end knobs jaw type substantially three-quarters round 32 for turning purposes. By'reason of the fact! bearings 2- h n a amed the supply th b a gs'i fl and 23 are three-quarters spindle is providedwith a longitudinal slot 2! round the spindlessnap into place when shifted??? for a tab, 22 on one end of the paper strip Ill. 4: into their operative position and tend to remain with one another side members ll of the frame. j They co nm'uniupply spindle 8. After one side of 'the paperstrip cate w th the entrance parts 25 of the openings I hasbeen filledwith writing the other side maybe.- '24 and are disposed mldway between t e tepand u'sedforwriting merely by removing the take-up, bottom faces or'the sidemembers H. The lower spindle -9 }wit hthe strip wrapped therearound,

table or other supporting surface. By reason of branches 2110f the T-shaped openings 24 define :0'

m s- 1 ns for adjustablymaintaining the bearings v The spindles 8 and 9 constitute the medium or s 23 in frictional engagement withthe ends of the a instrumentality for supporting the paper strip l take-upspindleQ. When thet k is H] and feeding it progressively and longitudiin place the ends thereof are journalled inthe'za nally across the top face of the board 6. They 35 bearings 23, as shown in'Figules 1 to 4 ,of th are the same in design and constructionas drawings. To removethe spindle 9 1 only shown in the drawings, and are slightly greater necessary toshift it transversely of the central in length than the frame I isw'ide. The supply 7 portions of the side members f th f spindle is disposed beneath and extends transand thenmove it laterally through the entrance When the device is assembled forinitial use the in place. i I b H tab 22 is inserted into the slot 2| and the strip t In u ing th device the f bfvthepaprer, is wound substantially completely around the strip I0 is drawn from the supply spindle 8 a pp y p n e 8. The take-up spind e, 9 s 5 is trained around the lower crossmember I2 of posed' beneathand extends transversely of the. the frame. Thereafter it is drawn across thetop' upper portion of the'board B and normally is faceof-th 'board 6 and -is trainedlaroundithe arranged in spaced apart and parallel relation upper cross member 13; After this operation the i t with the supply spindle 8. The central portion tab on the free end of the paper strip'iis insertedr r of the take-up spindle 9 is provided with a longi- U into the longitudinal groove inthe central portion l tudinal slotinot shown) for receiving or accom 5,5 of the take-up spindle 9 and the take-up spindle: modating a tab on the other end offthe paper 1 is rotated-so as to Wind the free end of the strip:- strip l8. When the take-up spindle is in operatherearound When the device is in its operative tive relation with the frame the endsthereof are 1 or assembled position, as shown in Figures 1; '2 and journalled in a pair of axially aligned split jaw 4, the portion ofthe paper strip lillthat'i sup-1:; type substantially three-quarters round bearings ported by the board 6 is available for vvriting'pur- 23 in the central portion of the side members H I poses When the portion'of the paper strip that of the frame 'I. The bearings 2t ,and 23 are. p p is supported by the board has been'used-the strip in; formed by providing T-shaped openings 2a in the is advanced or fed in order to bring van. unused- 5 central portions of the side members ll. These I portion of the strip into place for writing merely openings aredisposed'one directly opposite the by turning the take-up spindl -9 in th proper other as best shown in Figure 3, and comprise 1 direction to cause the strip to wind ther artmmli central or intermediate entrance parts 25, lower l 7 Turning of the spindle is effected by gripping the branches 2% and upper branches 2?. Thelower knob 32 on the spindle. When the take-up spindle v pp r r n h are longitudinally igned is turned the stri is drawn upwards across the ma and extend lengthwise of the board 6 and is automatically unwoundfromithe ends of the lowerbranches Z'd 'of theT-shaped (5 then shifting theempty supply Spindle 8 mmnelif;

bearings 23, then manipulating the take-up spindle 9 into the bearing 20 and finally training the free end of the strip around the lower cross member I2 across the board 6 and around the upper cross member l3 and then inserting the tab 22 into the slot 2|. With this particular assembly of, the device the unwritten side of the paper strip I is exposed for writing purposes and the supply spindle becomes the take-up spindle .and the take-up spindle becomes the supply spindle. After the strip has been used on both sides or on one side alone the spindle onwhich the strip is wound may be removed'from the frame and sent to any desireddestination by enclosing it in a suitable container. Should the ends of the spindles fit but loosely in their reberswith two spaced apart pairs of axially aligned spective split jaw type bearings the bearings may be tightened by tightening the adjusting screws. By reason of the fact that the frame 1 includes the feet I9 theportions of the strip which extend between the spindles and the lower and upper cross members of the frameare spaced above the supporting surface on which the frame rests in connection with use of the device. By having such portionsof the strip disposed above the support ing surface (see Figure 4) any writing in ink on the strip is not brought into contact with the supporting surface in connection with feed of the strip across the top face of the board.

The herein described writing device is essentially simple in construction and design and hence may be manufactured at an extremely low and reasonable cost. It has many capabilities of use and is characterized by the fact that the particular bearing arrangement for the supply and takeup spindles permits the spindles tobe quickly and readily shifted into and out of place. The device I is further characterized by the fact that it is durable and rugged while at the same time it is light in weight and may be readily carried or transported. v

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and invention What I extending around, and dependingfrom, the edges v of the board, and embodying a pair of side memthe ends of the side members, arranged so that the fiat sides thereof are inwardly disposed, their rounded surfaces are outwardly disposed and their upper edges are flush with the top surface of the board, and forming with said board and side members a chamber that is'closed except for the bottom, and a pair of transversely extending rotary spindles disposed for the most part in said chamber journalled in the two pairs of bearings, respectively, and adapted to support a strip of flexible writing material for feed around the rounded surfaces of the cross members of the frame and across the top face of the board.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a writing device comprising a rectangular board, a pair of laterally spaced side members connected to, and depending from, the side margins of the board and having in their central portions two opposed T-shapedopenings with the intermediat parts thereof extending through the bottom faces of the side members and the ends of their cross parts defining two spaced apart pairs of axially aligned bearings, and a pair of rotary spindles beneath and extending transversely of the board, releasably journalled in the pairs of bearings, respectively, and adaptedto support astrip of flexible writing material for feed across the top face of the board. Y

3. As a new article'of manufacture, a writing device comprising a rectangular board, a rectangular frame extending around, and depending from, the edges of the board, and embodying a pair of side members having in the central portions thereof a pair of opposed T-shaped openings with the intermediate parts thereof extending through the bottomfaces of the'Side members and the ends of their cross parts defining two cross members ofv the frame and across the top face of the board.

, EWING M. JOHNSON. 

